On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the Department of Education (DOE). This comes after months of campaign promises to fulfill the longstanding conservative goal to shut down the department. 

If the DOE does get shut down, H-F students will inevitably feel the impact. The DOE takes on many different roles, including funding for low-income students, funding for special education programs and holding schools accountable for civil rights violations. 

According to the Department of Education, they also give out approximately $120.8 billion in student loan aid each year. 

College counselor Kevin Coy explained how without this funding, students will need to turn to more local scholarships and colleges to fund their education. 

“Now, what I would hope is that if something happens federally with scholarships, grants, things like that, that sometimes what has happened is that the colleges take on that burden,” Coy said. 

While nothing has happened yet, students have to prepare for a potential shutdown. 

Turning to scholarships such as the H-F Parents Association Scholarship and looking at different scholarship websites is one of the best ways to combat the lack of federal aid.

If the DOE shuts down, students across the country will inevitably be impacted.

“Eliminating the Department of Education will likely have harsh and immediate impacts on Illinois’ students. It will harm students and their families in rural communities who rely on federal funding to keep their schools open,” said Illinois governor JB Pritzker, “It will remove supports students with disabilities and special needs rely upon. And low-income students who depend on Pell Grants to earn their college degrees will be forced to drop out.”

While threats of a shutdown have had school administration worried for students, H-F superintendent Scott Wakeley explained how H-F’s main priority is to protect its students.

“I worry about our most vulnerable kids and making  sure that they get protection,” Wakeley said.

The Trump administration has promised that student loans, special education and nutrition programs will shift to other departments and not be entirely cut. 

There has also been talk that the money used to fund specific programs within schools, such as free lunches, will be redistributed to the states to use. 

“I do know that what they are cutting from the Department of Education they are hoping to put more towards the states. 
If that happens, I worry about the funding of our colleges in the state of Illinois, because I just don’t know how it’s going to happen,” Coy said. 

While the future of the DOE is uncertain, H-F is dedicated to guiding students towards the right path.